The requirements for the following Merit Badges were revised, effective January 1, 2011:

The requirements for the following Merit Badges were revised, effective January 1, 2011:

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* [[Archery]]

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=====[[Archery]]=====

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* [[Astronomy]]

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Minor changes were made to requirements 5(OPTION A)(f)(2) and 5(OPTION B)(f)(2). Only the changes are shown here:

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* [[Horsemanship]]

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:5. Option "A" &ndash; Using a Recurve Bow or Longbow

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::f. Do ONE of the following:

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:::(2). Shooting 30 arrows in five-arrow ends at an 80-centimeter (32-inch) five-color target at <span style="color:green">15</span> <span style="color:red"><strike>10</strike></span> yards and using the 10 scoring regions, make a score of 150.

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:5. Option "B" &ndash; Using a Compound Bow

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::f. Do ONE of the following:

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:::(2). Shooting 30 arrows in five-arrow ends at an 80-centimeter (32-inch) five-color target at <span style="color:green">15</span> <span style="color:red"><strike>10</strike></span> yards and using the 10 scoring regions, make a score of 170.

The requirements for this badge were revised with the issuance of a new merit badge pamphlet.

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* [[Sports]]

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Requirement 1 was reworded by splitting the sentences into items a, b, and c. A new requirement 3d was added. Requirement 5b was revised and new requirements 5c and 5d were added. Requirement 6 was deleted, and old requirements 7-10 renumbered as 6-9. The wording of requirement 6b (old 7b) was revised. The wording of the first sentence of requirement 7a (old 8a) was revised, and the second sentence moved to a new requirement 7b. Requirement 7b (old 8b) was renumbered as 7c. The wording of requirement 9 (old 10) was revised. The changes to the last requirement are not included in Boy Scout Requirements 2011, but do appear in the merit badge pamphlet. We assume that was an editorial error.

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The '''''correct''''' requirements revisions are as follows:

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:1. <span style="color:red"><strike>Describe the proper clothing and other precautions for safely making observations at night and in cold weather. Tell how to safely observe the Sun, objects near the Sun, and the Moon. Explain first aid for injuries or illnesses, such as heat and cold reactions, dehydration, bites and stings, and damage to your eyes that could occur during observation.</strike></span> <span style="color:green">Do the following:

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::a. Describe the proper clothing and other precautions for safely making observations at night and in cold weather.

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::b. Tell how to safely observe the Sun, objects near the Sun, and the Moon.

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::c. Explain first aid for injuries or illnesses, such as heat and cold reactions, dehydration, bites and stings, and damage to your eyes that could occur during observation.</span>

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:2. ''(No change.)''

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:3. ''(No changes to '''a''', '''b''', & '''c'''.)''

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::<span style="color:green">d. Describe the proper care and storage of telescopes and binoculars both at home and in the field.</span>

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:4. ''(No change.)''

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:5. ''(Some changes.)''

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::a. ''(No change.)''

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::b. <span style="color:green">Using the Internet (with your parent's permission), books, and other resources, find</span> <span style="color:red"><strike>Find</strike></span> out when each of the five most visible planets that you identified in requirement 5a will be observable in the evening sky during the next 12 months, then compile this information in the form of a chart or table. <span style="color:red"><strike>Update your chart monthly to show whether each planet will be visible during the early morning or in the evening sky.</strike></span>

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::<span style="color:green">c. Describe the motion of the planets across the sky.</span>

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::<span style="color:green">d. Observe a planet and describe what you saw.</span>

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:<span style="color:red"><strike>6. At approximately weekly intervals, sketch the position of Venus, Mars or Jupiter in relation to the stars. Do this for at least four weeks and at the same time of night. On your sketch, record the date and time next to the planet's position. Use your sketch to explain how planets move.</strike></span>

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:6. <span style="color:red"><strike>7.</strike></span> Do the following:

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::a. Sketch the face of the Moon and indicate at least five seas and five craters. Label these landmarks.

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::b. Sketch the phase and the daily position of the Moon at the same hour and place, for <span style="color:red"><strike>a week</strike></span> <span style="color:green">four days in a row</span>. Include landmarks on the horizon such as hills, trees, and buildings. Explain the changes you observe.

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::c. List the factors that keep the Moon in orbit around Earth.

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::d. With the aid of diagrams, explain the relative positions of the Sun, Earth, and the Moon at the times of lunar and solar eclipses, and at the times of new, first-quarter, full, and last-quarter phases of the Moon.

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:7. <span style="color:red"><strike>8.</strike></span> Do the following:

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::a. Describe the composition of the Sun, its relationship to other stars, and some effects of its radiation on Earth's weather <span style="color:green">and communications</span>. <span style="color:red"><strike>Define sunspots and describe some of the effects they may have on solar radiation.</strike></span>

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::<span style="color:green">b. Define sunspots and describe some of the effects they may have on solar radiation.</span>

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::c. <span style="color:red"><strike>b.</strike></span> Identify at least one red star, one blue star, and one yellow star (other than the Sun). Explain the meaning of these colors.

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:8. <span style="color:red"><strike>9.</strike></span> With your counselor's approval and guidance, do ONE of the following:

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::a. Visit a planetarium or astronomical observatory. Submit a written report, a scrapbook, or a video presentation afterward to your counselor that includes the following information:

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:::*Activities occurring there

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:::*Exhibits and displays you saw

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:::*Telescopes and instruments being used

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:::*Celestial objects you observed.

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::b. Plan and participate in a three-hour observation session that includes using binoculars or a telescope. List the celestial objects you want to observe, and find each on a star chart or in a guidebook. Prepare an observing log or notebook. Show your plan, charts, and log or notebook to your counselor before making your observations. Review your log or notebook with your counselor afterward.

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::c. Plan and host a star party for your Scout troop or other group such as your class at school. Use binoculars or a telescope to show and explain celestial objects to the group.

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::d. Help an astronomy club in your community hold a star party that is open to the public.

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::e. Personally take a series of photographs or digital images of the movement of the Moon, a planet, an asteroid <span style="color:red"><strike>or meteoroid</strike></span> , meteor, or a comet. In your visual display, label each image and include the date and time it was taken. Show all positions on a star chart or map. Show your display at school or at a troop meeting. Explain the changes you observed.

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:9. <span style="color:red"><strike>10. List at least</strike></span> <span style="color:green">Find out about</span> three different career opportunities in astronomy. <span style="color:red"><strike>Pick the one you in which are most interested and explain how to prepare for such a career. Discuss with your counselor what courses might be useful for such a career</strike></span> <span style="color:green">Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you</span>.

The 2011 edition of Boy Scout Requirements (No. 33216 - SKU#34765) was released in mid-January, 2011. The 2011 Boy Scout Requirements book includes: a minor addition to Life rank requirement 4, a clarification to Eagle rank requirement 6, major revisions to three merit badges, minor changes to two merit badges, and the requirements for the three new merit badges (released in 2010).

2011 Boy Scout Requirements (Summary of changes)

Ranks

Life

An addition was made to requirement 6, by adding item (g) as a seventh option for Scouts teaching the EDGE method to another Scout. The change reads as follows:

6. While a Star Scout, use the EDGE method to teach a younger Scout the skills from ONE of the following sevensix choices, so that he is prepared to pass those requirements to his unit leader's satisfaction.

g. Three requirements from one of the Eagle-required merit badges, as approved by your unit leader.

Eagle

BSA included a clarification of requirement 4, as follows:

The 2009 printing of the Boy Scout Handbook inadvertently included bugler as a position of responsibility under Eagle Scout requirement 4; it is not. The corrected Eagle Scout requirement 4 will appear in the next printing of the Boy Scout Handbook.

Merit Badges

New

The following Merit Badges (released in 2010) are now listed in the new (2011) "Boy Scout Requirements" book:

The requirements for this badge were revised with the issuance of a new merit badge pamphlet.

Requirement 1 was reworded by splitting the sentences into items a, b, and c. A new requirement 3d was added. Requirement 5b was revised and new requirements 5c and 5d were added. Requirement 6 was deleted, and old requirements 7-10 renumbered as 6-9. The wording of requirement 6b (old 7b) was revised. The wording of the first sentence of requirement 7a (old 8a) was revised, and the second sentence moved to a new requirement 7b. Requirement 7b (old 8b) was renumbered as 7c. The wording of requirement 9 (old 10) was revised. The changes to the last requirement are not included in Boy Scout Requirements 2011, but do appear in the merit badge pamphlet. We assume that was an editorial error.

The correct requirements revisions are as follows:

1. Describe the proper clothing and other precautions for safely making observations at night and in cold weather. Tell how to safely observe the Sun, objects near the Sun, and the Moon. Explain first aid for injuries or illnesses, such as heat and cold reactions, dehydration, bites and stings, and damage to your eyes that could occur during observation.Do the following:

a. Describe the proper clothing and other precautions for safely making observations at night and in cold weather.

b. Tell how to safely observe the Sun, objects near the Sun, and the Moon.

c. Explain first aid for injuries or illnesses, such as heat and cold reactions, dehydration, bites and stings, and damage to your eyes that could occur during observation.

2. (No change.)

3. (No changes to a, b, & c.)

d. Describe the proper care and storage of telescopes and binoculars both at home and in the field.

4. (No change.)

5. (Some changes.)

a. (No change.)

b. Using the Internet (with your parent's permission), books, and other resources, findFind out when each of the five most visible planets that you identified in requirement 5a will be observable in the evening sky during the next 12 months, then compile this information in the form of a chart or table. Update your chart monthly to show whether each planet will be visible during the early morning or in the evening sky.

c. Describe the motion of the planets across the sky.

d. Observe a planet and describe what you saw.

6. At approximately weekly intervals, sketch the position of Venus, Mars or Jupiter in relation to the stars. Do this for at least four weeks and at the same time of night. On your sketch, record the date and time next to the planet's position. Use your sketch to explain how planets move.

6. 7. Do the following:

a. Sketch the face of the Moon and indicate at least five seas and five craters. Label these landmarks.

b. Sketch the phase and the daily position of the Moon at the same hour and place, for a weekfour days in a row. Include landmarks on the horizon such as hills, trees, and buildings. Explain the changes you observe.

c. List the factors that keep the Moon in orbit around Earth.

d. With the aid of diagrams, explain the relative positions of the Sun, Earth, and the Moon at the times of lunar and solar eclipses, and at the times of new, first-quarter, full, and last-quarter phases of the Moon.

7. 8. Do the following:

a. Describe the composition of the Sun, its relationship to other stars, and some effects of its radiation on Earth's weather and communications. Define sunspots and describe some of the effects they may have on solar radiation.

b. Define sunspots and describe some of the effects they may have on solar radiation.

c. b. Identify at least one red star, one blue star, and one yellow star (other than the Sun). Explain the meaning of these colors.

8. 9. With your counselor's approval and guidance, do ONE of the following:

a. Visit a planetarium or astronomical observatory. Submit a written report, a scrapbook, or a video presentation afterward to your counselor that includes the following information:

Activities occurring there

Exhibits and displays you saw

Telescopes and instruments being used

Celestial objects you observed.

b. Plan and participate in a three-hour observation session that includes using binoculars or a telescope. List the celestial objects you want to observe, and find each on a star chart or in a guidebook. Prepare an observing log or notebook. Show your plan, charts, and log or notebook to your counselor before making your observations. Review your log or notebook with your counselor afterward.

c. Plan and host a star party for your Scout troop or other group such as your class at school. Use binoculars or a telescope to show and explain celestial objects to the group.

d. Help an astronomy club in your community hold a star party that is open to the public.

e. Personally take a series of photographs or digital images of the movement of the Moon, a planet, an asteroid or meteoroid , meteor, or a comet. In your visual display, label each image and include the date and time it was taken. Show all positions on a star chart or map. Show your display at school or at a troop meeting. Explain the changes you observed.

9. 10. List at leastFind out about three different career opportunities in astronomy. Pick the one you in which are most interested and explain how to prepare for such a career. Discuss with your counselor what courses might be useful for such a careerPick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you.

Discontinued

2010 Historic (a.k.a. "Centennial") Merit Badges "Data Entry" Deadline: With the deadline of December 31, 2010 for Scouts to earn the historical merit badges, the decision has been made to allow additional time thereafter for entering them into the ScoutNET system. The deadline for doing so has been set as March 31, 2011. This applies to those at the local council who enter advancement based on forms submitted, or unit management software file uploads provided. It also applies to unit advancement processors using Internet Advancement. The merit badges affected are: Carpentry, Pathfinding, Signaling, and Tracking. This is not intended as an extension of time to earn the badges; only as additional time for data entry. Troops can submit advancement reports for Historic Merit Badges earned by Scouts before 12/31/2010 through March 31, 2011. — Announcement from the National Council office.

Revised

Boy Scout Requirements changes policy

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The requirements for rank advancement, Eagle Palms, and merit badges are effective January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2009. The requirements listed in this book [Boy Scout Requirements] are the official requirements of the Boy Scouts of America. However, the requirements on the following pages might not match those in the Boy Scout Handbook and the merit badge pamphlets, because this publication is updated only on an annual basis. These merit badge requirements also appear on the BSA's official Web site (http://www.scouting.org). The requirements posted on the Web site will coincide with this publication and will be updated at the same time, only on an annual basis.

If a Scout has already started working on a merit badge when a new edition for the pamphlet is introduced, he may continue to use the same merit badge pamphlet and fulfill the requirements therein to earn the badge. He need not start all over again with the new pamphlet and possibly revised requirements.